Tom Barker
Managing Director at Gordons Property Lawyers Ltd- Claim this Profile
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French Limited working proficiency
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German Elementary proficiency
Topline Score
Bio
Steven Guthrie
Reported to Tom for the last twelve months at Simply Conveyancing. Even during initial interview, I recall Tom as someone with incredible eye for detail, but also with a human touch, I recall Tom spending A LOT of time during my interview taking apart my CV, not just to get an idea of my experience, but also the personal touches, the genuine interest in what motivates you/what your down time looks like/getting to know the person, not just the employee. One of the real joys of working with Tom is knowing that he will "be there if and when you need him, but also being at arms length" allowing you to work on your own initiative, deliver what's needed, but you know at the same time he's there for support. Tom has a real ability to motivate and empower those who work for him, overall a genuine character who fosters trust.
James Northin
The issue in legal is getting people with expertise from outside the profession to increase the skills and knowledge as law changes fundamentally. Tom is that rare combination of someone with fantastic non-legal experience and the knowledge and understanding he gains from immersing himself in the people and processes of delivering client services. His appetite to learn and absorb, before challenging, blending with expertise and getting to a place where things are just better is huge. He gets "it", which is again, rare and increasingly valuable.
Steven Guthrie
Reported to Tom for the last twelve months at Simply Conveyancing. Even during initial interview, I recall Tom as someone with incredible eye for detail, but also with a human touch, I recall Tom spending A LOT of time during my interview taking apart my CV, not just to get an idea of my experience, but also the personal touches, the genuine interest in what motivates you/what your down time looks like/getting to know the person, not just the employee. One of the real joys of working with Tom is knowing that he will "be there if and when you need him, but also being at arms length" allowing you to work on your own initiative, deliver what's needed, but you know at the same time he's there for support. Tom has a real ability to motivate and empower those who work for him, overall a genuine character who fosters trust.
James Northin
The issue in legal is getting people with expertise from outside the profession to increase the skills and knowledge as law changes fundamentally. Tom is that rare combination of someone with fantastic non-legal experience and the knowledge and understanding he gains from immersing himself in the people and processes of delivering client services. His appetite to learn and absorb, before challenging, blending with expertise and getting to a place where things are just better is huge. He gets "it", which is again, rare and increasingly valuable.
Steven Guthrie
Reported to Tom for the last twelve months at Simply Conveyancing. Even during initial interview, I recall Tom as someone with incredible eye for detail, but also with a human touch, I recall Tom spending A LOT of time during my interview taking apart my CV, not just to get an idea of my experience, but also the personal touches, the genuine interest in what motivates you/what your down time looks like/getting to know the person, not just the employee. One of the real joys of working with Tom is knowing that he will "be there if and when you need him, but also being at arms length" allowing you to work on your own initiative, deliver what's needed, but you know at the same time he's there for support. Tom has a real ability to motivate and empower those who work for him, overall a genuine character who fosters trust.
James Northin
The issue in legal is getting people with expertise from outside the profession to increase the skills and knowledge as law changes fundamentally. Tom is that rare combination of someone with fantastic non-legal experience and the knowledge and understanding he gains from immersing himself in the people and processes of delivering client services. His appetite to learn and absorb, before challenging, blending with expertise and getting to a place where things are just better is huge. He gets "it", which is again, rare and increasingly valuable.
Steven Guthrie
Reported to Tom for the last twelve months at Simply Conveyancing. Even during initial interview, I recall Tom as someone with incredible eye for detail, but also with a human touch, I recall Tom spending A LOT of time during my interview taking apart my CV, not just to get an idea of my experience, but also the personal touches, the genuine interest in what motivates you/what your down time looks like/getting to know the person, not just the employee. One of the real joys of working with Tom is knowing that he will "be there if and when you need him, but also being at arms length" allowing you to work on your own initiative, deliver what's needed, but you know at the same time he's there for support. Tom has a real ability to motivate and empower those who work for him, overall a genuine character who fosters trust.
James Northin
The issue in legal is getting people with expertise from outside the profession to increase the skills and knowledge as law changes fundamentally. Tom is that rare combination of someone with fantastic non-legal experience and the knowledge and understanding he gains from immersing himself in the people and processes of delivering client services. His appetite to learn and absorb, before challenging, blending with expertise and getting to a place where things are just better is huge. He gets "it", which is again, rare and increasingly valuable.
Credentials
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Miller Heiman Strategic Sales Planning
Miller Heiman GroupApr, 2014- Nov, 2024 -
Corporate Leadership Staff
GEJan, 2013- Nov, 2024 -
Negotiations Training
ScotworkSep, 2011- Nov, 2024 -
Change Acceleration Process ("CAP")
GEJan, 2007- Nov, 2024 -
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (ICBB)
GEJan, 2007- Nov, 2024 -
Operations Management Leadership Programme
GE AviationSep, 2002- Nov, 2024
Experience
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Gordons Property Lawyers Ltd
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United Kingdom
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Legal Services
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1 - 100 Employee
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Managing Director
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Oct 2022 - Present
Managing Director for a UK Legal Services Firm, leading 140 people towards a more sustainable and brighter future. Reporting directly to the Owners of this 20 year+ national firm, we have set out a strategic plan of growth, quality and diversification, with our blend of premium service and can-do attitude as our differentiator. Working alongside some of UK's largest Banks & Lenders, and looking to grow our network of independent service providers, we focus on our strengths: Agility, Pragmatism, Supporting Others and Integrity, to compete and win in a highly volatile and fractious market. Part of the Firm's Executive Management Team, who together continue to develop and maintain a culture within our teams of fun, support, personal development and hard work.
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Simply Conveyancing
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United Kingdom
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Legal Services
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100 - 200 Employee
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Chief Operating Officer
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Jul 2020 - Sep 2022
Served as Chief Operating Officer (COO) on the Board of national legal services company, leading the Legal, Operations, HR, Quality, Project Management & Compliance teams, with an estimated 200 people in total. Balancing the team spirit and kinship from a small company, with the progress and ambition of a large company, we created a highly desirable place to work and grew the firm from 37 Property Lawyers to over 120+ in 2 years. Implementing a rigorous quality framework with a culture of quality, delivered an industry leading premium service, that led us to grow the firm from a Top 50 position (in UK) to the Top 5 (market share of volume according to HM Land Registry).
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Irwin Mitchell
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United Kingdom
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Law Practice
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700 & Above Employee
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Director of Strategy, Change and Operations
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Mar 2018 - Jul 2020
Led a newly formed Centre of Excellence for Operations, Change / Project Management and Business Analysis. Recruited 3 high calibre specialist teams and established a new framework to support the overall Group with strategic programme management, tactical process improvements and daily data analysis & reporting needs. Delivered 3 major key strategic programmes of work successfully (Business Intelligence, Case Management System CMS, Employee Engagement) and a major integration (M&A), to establish the team's value and credibility (team still thriving today).
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General Manager
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Jan 2015 - Mar 2018
Right-hand man for the Managing Partner in one of UK's leading law firms (indirect leadership of 500), managing the operational, financial and people elements of the business, whilst directing cross functional teams towards implementing improvements that helped this division of the business grow from £75M revenue to £125M in 5 years.Introduced new disciplines such as Strategic Plan, Target Setting, Data-Led Forecasting, Performance Management, Annual Appraisals and Great Place to Work.
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Catalent Pharma Solutions
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United States
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Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
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700 & Above Employee
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Director Commercial Operations
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Feb 2013 - Jan 2015
Part of a group of ex-GE leaders brought in to transform a $2bn, PE-Backed, Pharma Company in readiness for the eventual IPO (IPO completed in 2015). Leading the Sales Operations teams, personally responsible for improving the operational effectiveness of the 120 commercial leaders around the world, establishing a new Performance Management framework and corresponding Analytics & Incentives programmes. Also created and led a new Global Training & Development Team to support the commercial teams' effectiveness, specialising in Strategic Selling techniques (Miller Heiman) and Salesforce management (Customer Relationship Management CRM). Accredited as Miller Heiman trainer.
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GE HealthCare
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United States
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Hospitals and Health Care
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700 & Above Employee
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General Manager
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Jun 2010 - Feb 2013
General Manager for a global $40M subsidiary of GE Healthcare (Urology Therapy Business), with responsibility for P&L and managing 32 staff (EU, US, Asia) in Sales, Marketing, Customer Service and Medical Affairs. Successfully managed delicate employee disputes and a major regulatory risk.Invited by GE's CEO to join the prestigious "Corporate Leadership Staff" - a 4 year, personalised leadership development programme for future GE exec leaders.
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Product Leader
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Jan 2007 - Jun 2010
Acting as Product Leader for a portfolio of Nuclear Diagnostic Products, setting commercial strategy and ensuring delivery of financial objectives, as well as launching new Products to new markets globally.Travelling to local / regional sales teams & clients to persuade, influence and encourage them to adopt products. Developed a new product catalogue (for less than £500) and awareness campaign to educate sales teams and customers on products complex usages (sales increased 10% when budget was for flat results).
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Lean Six Sigma Black Belt
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Dec 2004 - Jan 2007
4 weeks classroom training in Lean Six Sigma and Change Acceleration Process with final exam (score 87%), followed by 2 major assignments with mentors and coaches to implement skills into practical business. Expert in Lean and Six Sigma disciplines (delivering Greenbelt training to 200+ students), experience in Value Stream Mapping and Kaizen events (utilised on many occasions in assignments) and an individual focus on implementing and utilising Net Promoter Score (NPS) to drive a commercial strategy.
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GE
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United States
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Industrial Machinery Manufacturing
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700 & Above Employee
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European Purchasing Digitisation Leader
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Dec 2002 - Dec 2004
Part of the European Corporate Initiatives Group ("CIG"), leading large, cross-business initiatives across all 13 of GE's businesses in Europe. Personally responsible for leading a small team towards the successful implementation of a standardised Procurement System (Oracle SSP) across all GE businesses (to become the world's largest cost control system @$13bn under control / $1bn in Europe). Part of the European Corporate Initiatives Group ("CIG"), leading large, cross-business initiatives across all 13 of GE's businesses in Europe. Personally responsible for leading a small team towards the successful implementation of a standardised Procurement System (Oracle SSP) across all GE businesses (to become the world's largest cost control system @$13bn under control / $1bn in Europe).
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GE Aerospace
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United States
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Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing
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700 & Above Employee
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Operations Management Leadership Programme
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Sep 2000 - Dec 2002
Graduate programme for future Ops Leaders, with dedicated training on Operations Management & Leadership ("OMLP"). Line Manager for several shop floor teams in Aero-Engine plants, implementing several operations improvement initiatives. Procurement placement - implemented indirect cost control systems. Graduate programme for future Ops Leaders, with dedicated training on Operations Management & Leadership ("OMLP"). Line Manager for several shop floor teams in Aero-Engine plants, implementing several operations improvement initiatives. Procurement placement - implemented indirect cost control systems.
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Education
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University of Nottingham
Masters, Mechanical Engineering -
King Edward VI College
A Level, Mathematics, Physics, Design